vivian 13

 

            “Here, tape the table cloths.” Mom ordered temp, handing her a roll of tape. I laughed as Tamp looked at the tape then at me. “She means to tape the edges onto the bottom of the tables.” I explained. “Ohh okay.” She says and goes to it. Mom shoves packages of table skirts into my arms. “You put the skirts up,” she ordered. I followed Temp and when she got done with a table I taped up the skirt. “Your mom turns into a drill sergeant when she’s party planning.” She whispers as she passes me. “You don’t have to tell me that! I already know!” I say laughing. After about ten minutes we were done with tablecloths. “I have to go change now, want to come with?” I ask temp before mom spots her. “Anything to get me out of deco duty.” She says following me toward the house.

           

We emerge through the door of our arena me in my party outfit, which consists of a dark blue dress and cowboy boots. Temp is wearing her usual flannel and jeans. But all the while people are staring at us. Mom couldn’t keep her mouth shut for five minutes. I took the microphone off it’s stand and cleared my throat into it. The guests turned their attention to me and I smiled. “well I guess ya’ll already know the big news. But for those who don’t, I’m getting married!” I said into the microphone. After a moment of stunned silence and smiling faces the arena burst into applause. Then temp walked up, took the microphone from me, and said into it “I am too.” The whole family laughed and burst into a new round of applause. I smiled at her and bowed, getting a new round of laughs. Then I stepped away from the microphone and into the crowd, where my family and lane’s surrounded me. I lost Temp in the crowd. Tina, Lane’s sister, came up behind me and tapped my shoulder and I spun around. When I saw her I jumped up and down and squealed. “Oh my gosh Tina! Why are you here?” I exclaimed. She smiled. “For the party duh. Lane called me a week ago.” She says giving me a hug. “that sneak, he never even told me.” I said pulling away. “Vivian!” I heard a little yell. I turned to see Taryn, Tina’s 5 year old daughter, running toward me her arms open wide, her red curls bouncing. I scooped her up when she ran into my arms and planted a kiss on her cheek. “hey sweetie. How are you?” I asked settling her on my hip. She smiles. “I’m good Vivi.” She starts playing with my hair. “you have hair like me Vivi.” She says after a second. I nod. “hum hmm.” I answer and Tina smiles at me. “hey Tarry guess what?” she asks. Taryn looks at her mom. “what momma?” she asks eyes wide. “Uncle Lane and Vivi are getting married.” She says smiling. Taryn looks confused. “what’s that mean?” she asks. I laugh. “it means I’m going to be your aunt!” I say bouncing her in my arms. She squeals and hugs my neck. “Yay!” she exclaims. “want to be my flower girl? you get to wear a pretty dress and have flowers.” I said and her eyes went wide again. “I do?” I nod at her question she claps. “yes I want to be your flower lady Vivi!” she says excitedly. I laugh and spin around holding her up in the air, kissing her cheek again before I set her down. “Good!”

 

Taryn is following me all around. Finally I get to Lane’s grandmother. “Hello Mrs. Langford, how are you?” I asked sitting down next to her wheelchair. She looks at me. “hello Tina! How have you been?” she asked and I smile. “no, I’m Vivian.” I answer, Mrs. Langford has a touch of  Alzheimer’s disease.  “who’s that?” she asks. “Lane, your grandson. I’m his fiancé.” I said and she finally recognizes me. “oh of course, I’m sorry dear my minds going wacko on me. Oh look here comes your fiancé now.” She says pointing to Castiel, who’s coming toward us. I laugh. “No Mrs. Langford that’s Cas, my best friend’s fiancé, and your other grandson.” I say as Cas walks up to us. “I take that as a compliment, Mimi.” He says kissing his cheek. “If we weren’t already in love with other people me and Viv would make a great couple.” He teases winking at me. I slug him playfully. “Yeah right.” I say. Mrs. Langford taps me on the shoulder as Lane makes his way toward me. “I have it right this time. Your man’s coming for yah.” She whispers and I giggle. Lane comes up and wraps an arm around my waist. “I see you’ve re-met my bride-to-be Mimi.” He says smiling down at me and then at her. “yup sure have, she’s keeping my mind in check.” Mrs. Langford replies. “I’m happy to help you Mrs. Langford. Anytime.” I say laying a hand on her shoulder. She reaches over and taps my hand lightly. “Call me Rose, sweetheart.” I smile. “Okay rose.”

 

Taryn and I are dancing in the driveway as dad strikes up the bonfire for the young people staying to drink and celebrate. We were going to do sparklers since it was close to the 4^th of July. Tina and Temp are sitting in the grass talking horses; they hit it off real well. Taryn was amazed she got two new aunts. We collapsed on the grass laughing after dancing for so long. She lays her head on my tummy, took my hand, and we look up at the sunset sky. “Vivi?” she asks squeezing my hand a little. “Hmm?” I ask looking down at her. “Do you love uncle Lane?” she asks. “yes I do love your uncle.” I say and run my fingers through her thick red hair. “Does uncle Lane love you?” she asks. I smile. “Of course. Very much.” I answer.  She turns over so she’s laying on her side and looking at me. “do you guys kiss?” she asks a mischievous smile spreading across her face. I laugh. “yes.” I answer. She makes a face. “Eww you got cooties!” she says sitting up. I sit up quickly and scoop her into my lap, kissing her cheek and hair. “Now you have cooties too.” I say laughing as she squirms and giggles, protesting. After a second she relaxes back against me. “uncle Lane doesn’t have cooties though. He give me kisses before he leaves our house every time. But Drake does.” She says making another face. “Who is Drake?” I ask. “This boy at school that chases me at recess.” She says. I laugh. “he probably just wants to be your friend silly. Uncle Cas used to chase me on the playground. And now were best friends. Give Drake a chance.” I reply. She smiles. “alright Vivi, I’ll try.” She says. Lane walks up. “Try what?” he asks. Taryn jumps up out of my arms and at him. He catches her and settles her on his hip. She kisses his cheek. “you don’t have cooties, and neither does Drake.” She says. He laughs. “okay I’m not even going to ask. I was sent to tell you the bonfire is ready.” He says, offering his hand to help me off the ground. I take it and he pulls me up next to him, wrapping the arm he wasn’t holding Taryn with around my waist and leading me toward the back yard.

 

When we got there everyone was gathered and Tina laughed as she saw us. “Tarry could practically be your guy’s child.” she says as I sit down and Taryn sits down on my lap. “I look like Vivian.” Tarry says proudly and the whole circle around the fire laughs.  Cas is passing out drinks and after about twenty minutes were roasting marshmallows. Temp somehow turned hers into an inferno. I laughed as she desperately tried to blow it out. “eh it’s no use, what good is a burnt marshmallow?” she says taking it off her skewer. “don’t you throw that perfectly good marshmallow in the fire!” Lane says snatching it from her and popping it in his mouth. I laugh. “Well I guess I have my own personal garbage disposal now.” Temp teases throwing a marshmallow at him. He caught it and stuck it on his skewer. “Want a S’more tarry?” he asks Taryn who is sitting with her dad. She runs over. “Yes! You make the best S’mores Uncle Lane.” She says as he puts the marshmallow over the fire. She turns to me. “Vivi can we do sparklers now?” she asks. I laugh. “As soon as were done with S’mores.” I answer.

 

“okay now hold it away from yourself.” I tell Tarry as I light her sparkler. “okay Vivi.” She says and starts twirling it in the air. Lane Laughs and lights up his. I light mine and begin to draw with it in the air. Lane takes my hand after his goes out. “here.” He says, leading my hand to draw. “Vivian and Lane, forever” he says as he draws it in the air. I smile up at him and he kisses me.